Soon after their arrival from Germany on the Williamsburg in 1854, Michael and Catherine Wagner their son Fredrick and three daughters Fredricka, Lavinia and Catherine, settled in Swansea . The family was employed by the Cottons at The Grange (10-kilometres north of Wagners Cottages ) until 1860 when they purchased a 10-acre town allotment and used the abundance of stone on the land to build the cottage, its fences and stables.

Tragedy at Spiky Bridge

In 1865 Fredricka Wagner married Constable John Pyke. The following year her sister Lavinia married John's brother Henry Pyke and the couple produced seven children.

Lavinia, Henry & their children were returning to Swansea from a social event in
1890 when their horse shied at Spiky Bridge overturning the cart carrying the
family and killing Lavinia.

The tragedy left Henry Pyke widowed and alone to raise his young family. As
was the custom of the day, Lavinia's younger sister Catherine stepped in to help
rear the children and later married Henry.

Fredrick Wagner never married and lived at Wagner's Cottage for the duration of his life.

In 1891 Michael Wagner died aged 72-years and Catherine Wagner followed seven years later at 82-years. The Wagner's grave is located in the Church of
England Cemetery in Swansea.